Comparative Stress Evaluation of ABS Plastic and PVC Plastic for High Pressure Applications Using Finite Element Simulation Approach

Mechanical and Materials Engineering

ABSTRACTIn this paper, comparative stress evaluation of ABS plastic and PVC plastic for high pressure applications using finite element simulation approach was successfully investigated. Two Plastic slab models of 16mm by 16mm wide with thickness of 2mm were created using Autodesk Inventor with an assigned material for each being ABS and PVC plastics respectively. Each of the plastic model was imported to Finite Element Analysis software where stresses were evaluated, using fixed constraints under a load of 10N. Results showed that the Von Mises stress for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and that of Acrylonitrile Butandiene Styrene (ABS) Plastic Slabs was found to be 1.11MPa for both under the stated simulation conditions. It suggested that failure of the two plastics due yielding would have equal chances and more noticeable in Acrylonitrile Butandiene Styrene Plastic due to its lower yield strength. Furthermore, 1st and 3rd principal stresses were found to be 1.505 MPa and 0.735MPa respectively, which indicated that the Polyvinyl Chloride and Acrylonitrile Butandiene Styrene Plastics would fail due to tensile stress rather than compressive stress under high pressure applications. Tensile strength improvers should be added during manufacturing of both plastics to ensure safety and reliability of usage. Study showed that the maximum stress induced was found to be 0.8511MPa, for both plastics. Since the ultimate tensile strengths for Polyvinyl Chloride and Acrylonitrile Butandiene Styrene Plastics were not exceeded, it suggested that the plastic model design was not over stressed and therefore, safe. This result also indicated that the two plastics have equal application areas or could be used interchangeably. Maximum displacement of 0.005443mm for both plastic slabs, suggested that the two plastics might be used in high pressure areas where rigidity is of paramount.

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